Tree Seed Information

This is a guide only as it is difficult to accurately state when a tree seed
will germinate, do not discard trays too early they may germinate the following
year. NOTE when per-chilling open sealed bags to allow air to enter twice
weekly. You may notice seed germinating while in the fridge, remove and sow this
seed. Seed requiring Pre treatment (stratification) can be either sown in pots
and left outside for nature to take its course (ensure pots are covered to
prevent mice eating the seeds) or it can be mixed with a small amount of damp
vermiculite, damp sand or damp sphagnum moss and sealed in a plastic bag and
then placed in the fridge for the stated time.For the longer stratification requirements of some species it may be
practical to sow outdoors where they will be exposed to the normal seasonal
temperature fluctuations e.g. those labeled DD.Seed labelled DD50 should be sown in April if the
germination is required the following spring, this would give the seed 20 weeks
of warm stratification (summer) followed by 30 weeks cold stratification
(winter). After Pre-treatment seed requires sowing, Fine seed sow on compost
surface larger seed cover, sow in either pots, trays or plugs/cells. Please note
some species may take a couple of years to germinate.

KEY to code found on seed
packet label. Pre-treatment to be applied prior to sowing the seed.

LPour
several lots ofhot water (not
boiling) over the seeds or rub seed on sandpaper to break down theseed coating, leave the seeds to soak for 5-10 hours until seed coating
has softened and seed swollen slightly if no swelling takes place (seed does not
imbibe water) continue soaking or break down outer seed surface and then soak,
Continue treatment until 75%+ of
seeds imbibe water. then sow seed at 18° C +

LW

Wisteria seed soak in warm water for 4 hours and then sow at 20°
C +

SDThese seeds will benefit from a moist pre chilling
treatment. Use the same technique as code PC below

PC
These seeds are not actually
dormant, but will germinate faster if given a moist chilling (or pre-chilling)
at 0-2° C for up to 10 weeks.

Pre soak seed for 24-48 hours drain and place in polythene bag or container and
tie while still moist place in fridge, keep mixed regularly during cold storage,
store for the time indicated on label or minimum 4 weeks. Then sow seed at 18° C
+

ND or ONo pre-treatment required, sow at 18° C +

MDThese seeds will not germinate at all unless given a lengthy
period of chilling. Soak seed in running water for 48 hours, drain and mix with
sieved peat and sharp sand or vermiculite. (Mix with equal volume of sieved peat
and sharp sand mist sprayed to dampen do not get the medium too wet or seed will
rot).Place in polythene bag tie
lightly, store for the number of weeks indicated on the label for that species,
e.g. MD14 = 14 weeks chilling, some seed will require warm stratification first
this will be indicated on the label

e.g. MD16; 2 weeks at 16-20° C followed
by 14 weeks cold strat (pre chilling).Tree Seed often has more even germination if kept for 2 weeks at 18-20° C
prior to chilling period.

Mix the seed twice a week in the bag to allow fresh air to enter and the seed to
breathe.

DDThese seeds are deeply dormant and require a lengthy
period under warm and cold conditions. Natural temperature fluctuations are the
most effective i.e. sow outdoors and allow nature to take its course.

Mix with equal volume of sieved peat and sharp sand mist sprayed to dampen do
not get the medium too wet or seed will rot. Soak seed in running water for 48
hours, drain and mix with sieved peat and sharp sand.The conditions can be given artificially by using a warm room
and refrigerator. Dry seed often has more even germination if kept for 2 weeks
at 18-20° C.Treat the
seed for the number of weeks indicated for the species. Mix the seed twice a
week in the bag to allow fresh air to enter and the seed to breathe.

GerminatedseedsPot up on receipt into 9cm
pots of gritty compost with added pearlite either lay seed on surface & lightly
cover root radical,Or can be
inserted sprouted part (root radical) fully into compost leaving 1/3 of seed
above compost. Grow on outdoors but protect seedlings during very cold weather (
& from squirrels mice etc) or in greenhouse. Due to the warm climate of these
trees growing on in greenhouse/indoors is the preferred method.

Pre-Treated Seeds

Recommended compost 70% moss peat or well rotted garden compost 20% medium grit
or pearlite 10% loam and slow release fertiliser, this compost is suitable
for all the tree seeds. The seed has been subject to a cold period of 6 to 18
months and are ready to sow on receipt some seeds will have already have
germinated. For the best results from these seeds place in bottom of
refrigerator on receipt until end of March (if receiving them early winter
onwards), check seed weekly to see if any have started to germinate, if so, sow
the seed in a frost free place. Sprinkle seed over the surface of the compost,
keep compost just moist (too much water can rot the seedlings) germination may
take several months, please note not all the seed will germinate and it is
advisable not to discard the seed for a couple of years. Seed from Acer palmatum
may not always come true to the parent tree, many will produce a range of
variable seedlings, many may be unique.

Tree seed sowing codes

Abies Concolour

White fir

SD

Abies Fraseri

Fraser fir

SD

Abies Grandis

Giant Fir

SD

Abies Nobilis (procera)

Noble fir [Wales Blue Strain]

SD

Abies Nordmanniana

Nordmann fir

SD

Abrus praecatorius

Crabs eye Jumbie beads

L

Acacia baileyana

Cootamundra Wattle

L

Acacia dealbata

Silver Wattle

L

Acacia Decurrens

Early Black Wattle

L

Acacia podaluriifolia

Queensland Silver Wattle

L

Acer campestre

Field Maple

DD34

Acer Cappadocium

Caucasian Maple

DD28

Acer Capillipies

Red Snake Bark Maple

DD28

Acer circinatum

Vine Maple

DD28

Acer davidii

Snakebark Maple

MD12

Acer ginnala

Amur Maple

DD34

Acer ginnala Flame

Flame Maple

DD28

Acer griseum

Paper-bark Maple

DD50

Acer griseum Stratified

Paper-bark Maple

Acer Henryi

MD12

Acer Japonicum

Full moon maple

DD28

Acer Japonicum aconitifolium

Fern leaf maple

DD28

Acer Macrophyllum

Oregon Maple

DD28

Acer monspessulanum

Montpellier Maple

DD28

Acer Negundo

Box Elder

MD20

Acer Nikoense

Nikko Maple

DD50

Acer Palmatum

Japanese Maple

DD34

Acer Palmatum ssp Palmatum

Japanese Maple small leaf form

MD20

Acer Palmatum Dissectum

Japanese maple

MD20

Acer Palmatum Dissectum Viridis

Gree fern leaf Maple

MD20

Acer Palmatum Elegans

MD20

Acer Palmatum Hessei

Heptolobum Elegans Purpureum

MD20

Acer Palmatum Korean Gem

MD20

Acer palmatum osakazuki

Japanese Maple

MD20

Acer palmatum siegen

Japanese red maple

MD20

Acer Palmatum Tana

MD20

Acer palmatum atropurpureu

Blood Leaf Japanese Maple

DD34

Acer platanoides

Norway Maple

MD12

Acer pseudosieboldianum

Korean Maple

MD12

Acer pseudoplatanus

Great Maple Sycamore Maple

MD12

Acer saccharinum

Silver Maple

Not Dormant

Acer saccharum

Sugar Maple

MD12/DD24

Acer buergerianum

Trident Maple

DD34

Acer rubrum

Red Maple

MD12

Acer Rufinerve

Snake Bark maple

MD20

Acer Sieboldianum

MD20

Acer Triflorum

Rough Barked Maple

DD28

Acer truncatum

Shantung maple

MD12

Actinidia kolomikta

VAR10

Adansonia digitata

Baobab

0

Ailanthus Altissima

Tree of Heaven

PC3-10

Akebia quinata

Chocolate Vine

PC10

Akebia trifoliata

PC10

Albizzia julibrissin

Silk Tree

L

Alnus cordata

Italian Alder

PC6

Antigonon leptopus

Coral vine or Mexican creeper

O

Aralia Spinosa

Hercules Club Devils Walking Stick

Cold Germinater

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Bearberry Common

DD28

Araucaria araucana

Monkey Puzzle

Not Dormant

Arbutus Unedo

Strawberry Tree

PC3-10

Argyreia nervosa

Wooly Morning Glory

O

Asimina triloba

pawpaw does not keep

MD12-14

Betula Pendula UK 403

Silver Birch

PC10

Betula nigra

River Birch

PC6

Betula Utilis

Himalayan Birch

PC6

Betula papyrifera

Paper Birch

PC6

Brachychiton rupestris

Australian Bottle Tree

L

Camellia japonica

Camellia

MD12

Caragana Arborescens

Siberian Pea Shrub

L

Carica Papaya

Papaya Pawpaw

O

Catalpa Bignonoides

Indian Bean Tree

ND

Cedrus Atlantica

Atlas Cedar

SD

Cedrus Deodara

Indian Cedar

SD

Cedrus libani

Cedar of Lebanon

SD

Celtis australis

Southern Nettle Tree

MD12

Ceratonia siliqua

Locust /Carob tree

L

Cercis Canadensis

Eastern Redbud

L

Cercis Siliquastrum

Judas Tree

L

Carpinus betulus

Hornbeam Common

DD39

Chaenomeles Largenaria

Japanese flowering Quince

MD18

Chaenomeles Japonica

Japanese Quince Dwarf Quince

MD18

Chamaecyparis Lawsonia

Lawson Cypress

PC

Cinnamomum camphora

Camphor tree

O

Cornus alba sibirica

Dogwood

MD14

Corylus avellana

Hazel

MD16

Corylus colurna

Turkish Hazel

MD16

Cotoneaster horizontalis

Rockspray Cottoneaster

DD39

Cupressus cashmeriana

Kashmir Cypress

PC 4-6

Cupressus macrocarpa

Monterey Cypress

PC4

Cryptomeria japonica

Japanese Cedar

PC4

Ecremocarpus scaber

Chilean Glory Vine

0

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Oleaster

MD12

Erythrina crista galli

Coral Tree

O

Fagus Sylvatica

Beech

MD12

Fagus Sylvatica atropurpureum

Beech

Ficus benghaldensis

Banyan Indian Fig

O

Ficus benjamina

Weeping Fig

O

Ficus macrophylla

Australian Banyan

O

Ficus rubiginosa

Port Jackson Fig

O

Fraxinus Excellsior

Ash

DD34

Fraxinus Ornus

Manna Ash

DD34

Ginko Biloba

Maidenhair tree

Not Dormant

Gleditsia Triacanthos

Honey Locust

L

Hamamelis japonica

Japanese Witch Hazel

DD34

Hamamelis virginiana

Common Witch Hazel

DD34

Jasminum nudiflorum

Winter Jasmine

MD12

Juglans Nigra

Black Walnut

MD16

Juglans Regia

Walnut

MD16

Juniperus chinensis

Chinese Juniper

MD14

Juniperus communis

Juniper

DD36

Juniperus rigida

Needle Juniper

MD14

Koelreuteria paniculata

Pride of India

Scarify + MD14

Laburnum alpinum

Scotch Laburnum

L

Laburnum anagroides

Laburnum Common

L

Larix leptolepis

Japanese larch

PC4-6

Libocedrus decurrens

Incense Cedar

PC6

Ligustrum vulgare

Privet

MD16

Liquidambor styraciflua

Sweet Gum

PC8

Lycium chinensis

Chinese Wolfberry Chinese Boxthorn

Not Dormant

Magnolia Kobus

Japanese Magnolia

DD25

Magnolia liliflora

Mu-lin

DD25

Magnolia soulangiana

Saucer Magnolia

DD25

Magnolia grandiflora

Bull Bay

MD12

Magnolia

Magnolia

Malus baccata

Siberian Crab Apple

MD16

Metasequoia glyprostroboides

Dawn Redwood

PC4

Moringa oleifera

Horseradish-tree

O

Morus Alba

White Mulberry

MD16

Morus nigra

Black Mulberry

MD16

Mucuna albertisii

Hamburger Bean Sea Bean

L

Mucuna deringiana

Velvet Bean

L

Myristica Fagrans

Nutmeg

O

Nothofagus Antarctica

Antarctic Beech

PC10

Olea europea

Olive

DD34

Parthenocissus tricuspidata

Boston Ivy

MD12

Parthenocissus veitchii

Boston Ivy Autumn purple leaved

MD12

Phellodendron amurensis

Amur Cork Tree

MD12

Picea Abies

SOW DIRECT

Picea englemannii

Englemann Spruce

PC4

Picea glauca

White spruce

PC4

Picea Omorika

Serbian Spruce

PC

Picea Pungens Glauca

Blue Spruce

PC

Pinus mugo-mughus

Mountain Pine

PC6

Pinus thunbergii

Japanese black pine

PC6

Pinus densiflora

Japanese red pine

PC4

Pinus parviflora

Japanese white pine

DD36

Pinus Parviflora Brevifolia

Japanese white pine

DD36

Pinus halepensis

Aleppo pine

PC4

Pinus sylvestris

Scottish pine

PC4

Prunus avium

Wild Cherry

DD29

Prunus Mahaleb

St Lucie Cherry

DD29

Prunus Mume

Japanese Apricot

MD20

Prunus spinosa

Sloe

DD29

Prunus Serrulata

Japanese Flowering Cherry

MD20

Pseudotsuga taxifolia

Douglas fir

PC

Punica Granatum

Pomegranate

MD14

Punica granatum nana

Dwarf Pomegranate

MD14

Pyrus Communis

Common Pear

MD16

Quercus Ilex

Holm Oak

SOW DIRECT

Quercus Robur UK403

English Oak

SOW DIRECT

Quercus Rubra

Red Oak

SOW DIRECT

Quercus cerris

Turkey Oak

SOW DIRECT

Robina pseudoacacia

False Acacia/Black Locust

L

Rosa (All)

Samanea Samen

Scarification reduces stratification time

Monkey Pod Rain Tree

DD39

O

Sambucus racemosa

Elder red beried

DD39

Sapium sebiferum

Chinese Tallow Tree

MD10

Sciadopitys verticillata

Japanese Umbrella Pine

DD36 to PC20

Sequoiadendron giganteum

Giant Redwood/Big tree

PC9

Sequoia Sempervirens

PC9

Sophora Japonica

Japanese Pagoda Tree

L

Sorbus Aucuparia

Mountain Ash Rowan

MD16

Spathodea campanulata

African Flame Tree

O

Styrax Japonica

Snowbell

MD16

Syringa Vulgaris

Common Lilac

MD16

Taxus Baccata

Yew

DD70

Tilia Cordata

Lime small leaved

DD39

Thuja compacta orientalis v pyramidalis

Chinese Arbor-vitae

PC8

Tsuga Heterophylla

Western Hemlock

PC

Ulmus glabra

Wych elm

Not Dormant

Ulmus parviflora

Chinese Elm

Not Dormant

Vaccinium myrtillus

Bilberry

MD12

Wisteria sinensis blue

Chinese Wisteria

Not Dormant

Wisteria floribunda

Japanese Wisteria

LW

Zelkova serrata

Japanese Zelkova

PC6

Zelkova carpinifolia

Caucasian Elm

PC6

Zizyphus Jujuba

Chinese Date

MD12

Scarification :- The germination of some seeds is
greatly improved by rubbing the seeds lightly between two sheets of
sandpaper or soaking in water to break down the hard coating which
prevents the seed from imbibing moisture.

Stratification
:- Tree seeds have to be subjected to a period of cold and warm
stratification to break their dormancy before germination takes place, as
it would normally in the spring. You can provide the period of cold by
adding the seed to damp sieved peat, sand or vermiculite and putting it in
a plastic bag in the fridge for 2-32 weeks dependant on species.